Philippines - Yeng bares roster
National team head coach Yeng Guiao has named the 14 members of the squad that will compete in the regional qualifier for the 2010 Fiba World Championship in Turkey. Most Valuable Players Kelly Williams, Willie Miller, James Yap and Asi Taulava lead the cast of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)-backed squad that will first compete in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) tourney to get a ticket to the qualifier in Guangzhou, China, next year.
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National team head coach Yeng Guiao has named the 14 members of the squad that will compete in the regional qualifier for the 2010 Fiba World Championship in Turkey.
Most Valuable Players Kelly Williams, Willie Miller, James Yap and Asi Taulava lead the cast of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)-backed squad that will first compete in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) tourney to get a ticket to the qualifier in Guangzhou, China, next year.
“It’s a mixture of veterans and young players. It’s not as big as I want it to be, but I’m very confident [on] the speed and the scoring abilities of our guards and wingmen,” said Guiao in a press conference at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, on Thursday.
“We may not have a naturalized seven-footer but I think Mick [Pennisi] and Asi can hold their own against the big guys in the Asian tournaments,” he added.
Also in the pool are rookies Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger, and Arwind Santos, Ryan Reyes, Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, Jayjay Helterbrand, Kerby Raymundo, Pennisi and Ranidel de Ocampo.
Williams, Taulava, Norwood, Helterbrand and Pennisi are holdovers of the last squad that competed in the Fiba-Asia qualifier for the Beijing Olympics in Tokushima, Japan, in 2007. That team was handled by Chot Reyes, who managed to lead the team to a ninth-place finish.
Curiously, Jimmy Alapag and Mark Caguiao are not on the squad, but Guiao defended his decision.
“They [Alapag and Caguioa] were seriously considered on the squad,” said Guiao. “Jimmy is one of the most talented point guards in the PBA, but the problem is the mismatches he might encounter against taller guards in the Asian level. Mark, on the other hand, is not fit to play at this stage and even his coach, Jong Uichico, couldn’t explain his present condition.”
Guiao came up with the roster after a series of meetings with his advisory group composed of past national head coaches—Sonny Jaworski, Norman Black, Tim Cone, Uichico and Reyes.
“I seriously considered the suggestions of the five-man advisory group and will continuously consult with them up to the time of our participation in the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship and the Seaba tournament,” said Guiao.
Guiao’s team has a height average of six-foot-four. “Six-four is not a bad average height,” he said. “What we lack in height, we will make up in hustle and speed.”
The team will start training next week but Guiao is arranging an orientation dinner with the players on Monday.
“It’s just an exchange of ideas about the team’s philosophy and a simple get together before we go to serious business at hand,” said Guiao.
“I’m sure, all the players who are included here are more than willing to play for the national flag. We didn’t twist their arms just to join the squad. Walang pinilit dito,” he added.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said that the team might play in several pocket tournaments here and in abroad, including the William Jones Cup tournament in Taipei and other invitational tournaments in the Middle East.
“We might also consider holding our own pocket tournaments here and invite a selection of US players or the SBP Pilipinas team training for the Olympics,” said Barrios.